Front running gear for vehicles



Jan. 13. 1.925. 1 1.522,70 6

G. N. ALLEN Patented Jan. 13, 1925 GEORGE NGRV'OOD ALLEN, OF HOOSICK FALLS, NEW YORK.

FRONT RUNNING' G EAR FR VE'HICLES.

Application fi1ed March 1, 1922. Serial N0. 540,079.

T all u*7wm z't may ooncem:

Be it known that 1. GEORGE Nomvoon ALLEN. a citizen 0I" the United States, residing at Hoosick 13 al1s in the couny 01 Rens selaer und State. 01 New York, hzwe invented certain new and usefu1 Improvemenis in Front Running Gears E01' Vehicles, 01 Which the foilowing is a spevi'ricaion.

This in\'ention relates to freut running 01 foretrucl; Eox Vh1clefi, und is more pmticulmly adapted 1'01 usc in connection with m21- nure spreac1ers.

The objects of the invention are First =t-0 construct a ivont running gear 0r foretruck, which W111 not 0n1y bs light und rigid but also easily assiembled 01 installed 017 dlsassembled and cf a minimum cost 01 nmnufactura.

Second, w cgnstruct und arrange the parts 0f the 110116 running gem whivh W111 prevent the whipping 0f the dra1"c p01e und per mit the use 01 lauge dia1neter front wheels to lighuen the dmft and g'we greater c1earance f01 1uts 01 othe1 obst-ructions du.e to 10ugh und irregulzn field conditions.

'Third. to arrange and combine a support E01: the bez; 01' body t0 the front axle Whereby the. f1ront wheels will be able tn t1nn under suid support through nearly an angle 01 nine1y degrees 11'0111 their position when the vehi.cle is moving straight forwar 1 so that the body or b0x 013 he n1anure spreader nmy be 10W down and parallel t0 the ground without interfering Wifl1 the free and easy tuming n1o\*en1ent 01 said i'ront wheels, und @nubling said wheels; 10 turn nearly pzwax1e]. with the movement 01? the dra=ft pole, thereby insuring ready und ce1tain manuuuvringg 0I" the spreader in crumped o1 01'0W(16(1 opera.ting conditions.

F'omth. to so construct und arrange upper und 10WL1 transYerse supporcs with pivota1 vonnections Which W111 a110w the Front \\'11Q61S to hzwe a 11ee rocking o1 oscillating movemenr whi1e passing 0\'01 1'011g11 ground without s\lbjecting any 0f the elements comprisinp; the freut runnin;g gear 01 body 0f the spreader 10 :my undue strains 01 stresses, rheroby eliminating any binding action between said elements und hence avoiding rapid dete1iomtion und secure a rang period 0'f usefulness 'f01' H1e spreader with a mini mum 01' attention.

Fi1i'h. 10 so construct, ar1ran und u nnect the 1ear end o? ;he d1'aft p0 e with fhe front mmning gea1. whereby the fvee end 01 snid po1e and 1'ront gear und wheels may be easi1y and propetly turned through. nearly an am 0f one hundred and eighty degrees, and the 1ear 01 attached end 01 said draft pole may readily and freely ab 2111 times m0ve in x ertical plane.

Sixt-h, 10 construct und arrange a guide 101. ehe rear 01 attauhed end 01 ehe draft p010 Whiuh not only acts as a pole mde und means f01 turning Ehe ir0nt W118e18, but also us a bumper when acting in conjunction with astop t0 prevent the front wheels 110m being turned into a dangerous osition anc1 t11rough an am approachingr one hundred and eighty degrees.

Seventh, other objects und advantages 0f the invention W111 appear fr0m the detailed description 0f the construction und operat10n t0 be hereinafter given.

The im ent-ion consist-s 0f structural characteristics and relative arrangement of elements which W111 be hereinafter more 11111 described and particularly pointed 0ut in the appended claims.

In Ehe drawings, in which the same reference characters indicate the SIIDG parts in the figures:

Figure 1. is a 1ywrspective view 01 the front end 0'f a manure spreader provided With the improvecl front running gear, und

Figure 2 is 21 fronc elevation 0n a reduced sende of the spreader.

Referring t0 the drawings, 10 represents the outwardly inclined 01 overhanging front e nd 01. the box or boc1y 01 the manure spreader, which is provided Wiih the usual sills 11 und side-boards 12. Suitably secured 011 each side f the body and si11s 11 ancl side-boards 12 and extending forwurd 0f the freut end 10, is an arched suppnrt 14 having connected a1 its end by means 0f a meoal gusset 15 a de1.)ending vertical brace 16. Said arched suppofts 14 may bG braced against lateral displacement from the side-boards 12 by reenforcing strips 141 secured to the outer ec1ges 013 the forwardly inclined fr0nt end 10. An upper transverse support having members 17 17 is secured and connected to the upper sections 01 the vertical bruces 16, 16', by mezms of Ushaped m01211 gussets 18, 18, Which provide a rigid and streng hange1 structure t0 prevent any displacement 0r change of the relative position of the arched supports 14. 14 and vertical braces 16, 16. wit-h euch other ancl in proper ahnement, und. transfers a pa1t of the draft to the supports 14, 14, 218 Will he presently explained.

Preferably secured on the inner side an(l between und at 111163 middle portion of che two separated members 17. 17 of the upper transverse support by rivets o1 otherwise, a1e tW0 separate hinge supports 01 plates 19, 19, and 20 is a hinge pin passing through said plates with 21 sleeve or pipe spacer 21 beuween l'ho plac-es 19, 19 130 hold them in proper osition for purposes to be presently described.

22, 22 are sepurated ba1s which form a hinged transverse lower snpport o1 front axle, und are provided at their middle portion with plates 23. 23 rigidly secured to the inner sides of seid hars 22, 22, said plates 23, 23 hming at their upper ends a hinged o1 pivolal conneotion on the sleeve 0r pipe spacer 21 and between the hinge supports or plates 19, 19. The separated bzus 22, 22 are arrangred und disposed so that the dependinq vertical braees 16,16pass between then1 anal the front and 2ear edges of seid braces will have a sliding contacb with the inner sides of seid bars 22, 22 and aot es a gnidewa; f01' the ends of the transve1se lower support or lront axle when it oscillates o1 rocks on the. sleeve o1 pipe spaoer 21 with the hinge pin 20 es a center.

i..t euch of 1ihe outer ends und rigidly and ti,qhtly secured between the ha1s 22, 22 of the transverse lower snppo1t o1 front axle, b v means 01 bolts 24, 24, is hanger 01 l vearing 25 Which acts es 21 spacer f01 the ends of l'ho bnrs 22, 22 and at l'ho sarne fimo receives the upright o1 vertioal pivoted arm 26 of a steering knuokle 27 having a wheel spindle 28 on which is rotatably mounted a. fronl wheel 29.

30 is a draft clevis pivotally conneeted al1 its central section 110 the foremost hinge suppo1t O1 plae 19 b means o1 the hinge pin 20, and its lower end is secu1ed hy rneans 0f tie boll 31 lo the foremost bar 22 und plate 23, and a tie shap 311 below seid clevis 30 is also securcd to thehack of the 1ea1 bar 22 oE the lower support m front axles by seid tie holt 31. whereby he di'afl; exert-ed on said clevis 30 is properl y und uniforrnly dislributed to the memloers of the upper transverse supports 17, verticnl braces 16, 16 und arched supports 14, 14, to the body of the spreader, as Will be readily understood.

32 anal 33 are. respectively, upper and lower Pole guide straps,which aro pivotally connected als their rear ends to lhe' forwardly projeoting ends of the draft olevis 30 loy means of a drafb pin 34, es shown, und just forward of und separated from said pin 34 and connected helween the rezu ends 013 the pole guide straps 32 und is provided an. upztghi brnce 35 which not only acts as a spacer and brace f0i the real ends of said straps 32 and 33, butsupplies a stiff and rigid section for applying the draft of the pole 36, to be presently described.

A ole guide 37 consisting orf a box-like 01 rectangular fromme is uttached to the forward end of the upper guide strap 32 and secured by a pin 331 to the strap 23, and is o1 such a width 2is t-o hzwe 21 sliding fit with the sides 01" the pole 36. The rear end of said pole 36 is passed through the guide 37 and is provided with a- U-shaped clevis 38, prelerably pivotally connected by a pin 381 to said end, and is so constructed and arranged as t0 have its middle section inlerposed between the adjaoent sides o1? the separated upright draft pin 34 and upright brace 35, whereby the rear end 0f the pol 36 Will not only be able to swing th1ough an am approaching one hundred and eighty degrees, but, as W1ll be readily UIIC] GIT stood, have move1nent in a vertical plane within the boundaries Circumscribed by pin 34, brace 35, guide straps 32 and 33 and pole guide 37, and yet permit the rear end of' said pole 36 t0 either push or pull with respect to the draft pin 34 in any position of its movements in said vertioal plane and swing in the above am.

a restricted and conc'rolled freely Said gui de straps 32 and 33 are offset so as 10 be a greater distance apart z1t theii forwm-d ends, so as to permit a wider range of movemenc 0'f the pole 36 in the guide The sides of the rear section of the drall; pole 36 are preferably provided with Wear plates 39 10 keep the wooden pole from 01mling und wearing away and preventing lost motion within the pole guide 37 and olevis 39. 40, 40 a1e extensions o1 stee1ing ar1ns; slightly ofl'set and connezrted to the steering knuckles 27, 27, and 41, 41 are links 01' distance rods hnving one end pivotally conneeled to an outer end of the steering :un1 40, while their other ends are pivotally c0n nected h y the pin 331 to the lower side 0: end off the ole guide 37, so that When lho pole 36 swings to the right 01' left its mo Lion is imparted through the .gnide 37 zm l pin 331 (o the links o1 rods 41, 41 und zmns 40, 40 and n1ove the steering knuekles 27, 27, Willi their front wheels 29, 29, in nnison, as is common in this dass of steering gear.

42, 42 zure stops so positioned and secured to the forw-ard bar 22 of the transverse lowe1 support filmt when the drafc pole 36 is swung around, the pole g'iiide 37 Wlll con1e in contact With seid stops 42, 42, and prevent the front wheels 29, 29 from swinging yond an am of ninety degrees and cause a disorganization nnd danmge of'fhe frmit rnnning gear und body 0'f the spreader.

43 is a support for a foot rast 44 andis seoured al fhe 1021-1' m ll}e man memloer 17 of and attached to and projeoting fro1n the front end of' said body and having a depending vertical brace, an upper transverse support secured to and connecting the upper sections of said depending vertical braces, a hinge support secured to and depending froan said upper transverse support between said wartical braces, a trans verse lower support pivotally oonnected or hinged between its ends to said hinge support and said lower support ends so 0011- struoted and arranged to loeengaged and guided by said depending vertical braces, a steering knuckle having a spindle and pivotal1y connected to each of the outer ends of said transverse lower support, a front supporting whee1 journaled 011 each of said spindles, a chaft pole guide hinged to said lower support, a draft pole within said pole guide and having one end pivotaily conneoted to said transverse lowe1 support movable in a vertical plane in said po1e guide, and 1neans for pivotally connecting the draft pole guide Wih each of said steering knuokles. y

5. A front running gear for vehicles com prising a body, a support ab each side of and attached to the front end of said body and having a depending vertioal brace, an upper transverse support secured to and connecting the upper seotions of said depending verti aal braces, a hinge support secured to and depending from said upper transverse support between said vertical braces, a transverse lower support pivotally connected o1 hinged between its ends to said hinge support and said low er support ends so coustruoted anc1 arranged to be engaged and gnided by said depending vertical bra zes, stops 011 said lower support, a steer1ng knuckle having a spindle and pivotali connected to each of the outer ends 0 said transverse lower support, a front supporting wheel journaled on each of said spindles, a draft pole guide hinged to said lower support and adapted to ahnt against said stops, a draft po1e within said pole guide and having one end pivotally connected to said transverse lower supportmovable in a Vertical plane in said pole guide, and 1neans for pivotally conneoting the draft po1e guide with each of said stee1ing knuckles.

6. A. front running gear for vehicles comprising a body, a support ab each side of and attached to the front end of said body and having a depending vertical braoe, an upper transverse support seoured 130 and connecting the upper seotions of said depending vertical braces, a hinge support secured to and depending from said upper transverse support between said vertical braces, a transverse lower support pivotally conneoted or hinged between its ends to said hinge support and said lower support ends so coustructed and arranged .to be engaged and guided by said depending vertical braces, a draft clevis connected to said lower support, a steering knuckle having a spindle and pivotaliy conneoted t0 each of the outer ends of said transverse lower support, a

f1ont supporting wheel journaled on eaoh of said spindles, a draft pole guide hinged to said draft clevis, a draft ole within said pole guide and having one end pivotally and slidingly connected t0 said draft clevis, and 1heans for pivotally connecting the draft pole guide knuckles.

7. A front 1unning gea1 for vehicles comp1ising a body, a sup-port at each side of and attached to the front end of said body and having a depending vertioal brace, an upper transverse support secured t0 and oonneeting the upper seCtions of said depending vertica1 braces, a hinge support secnred to anti depending fron1 said upper transverse support between said vertical braces, a transverse 10We1 support pivotally connect-ed 01' hinged between its ends to said hinge support and said 1ower support ends so coustruoted and arranged t-o be engaged and guided by said depending vertioal braces, a draft c1evis connected 130 said lower support, a steering knuckle having a spindle and pivotally connected to each of the outer ends of said transverse lower support, a front supporting Wheel journaled on each of said spindles, a draft po1e gnide, straps pivotally connecting said pole guide to the draft clevis, a draft pole having one end vertically 1novable within said po1e guide and pivotaliv connected to said draft clevis, and means for pivotally conneoting the draft po1e guide with eaoh of said steering knuokles.

8. A front running gea1 for vehicles comprising a hody, a suppdrt at each side of and attached to the front end of said body and having a depending vertical brace, an upper transverse Support secnred to and connecting the upper sections of said depending vertical braces, a foot rest seoured to and resting on said upper transverse support, a hinge support secnred t o and depending from said upper transverse support between said vertical braces, a transverse lower support pivotally connected o1 hinged be t-ween its ends to said hinge support und said lower suppolt ends so constnmted and arranged to be engaged and guided by said depending verc-ical braces, a steering knuckle having a spindle and pivotally connected to nach of the outer ends of said transverse 1ower support, a front supporting wheel 0urnaled on each of said sp1ndles, a draft pole hav1ng one end pwotally connected to said transverse lower support, and aneans for pivotally connecting the draft pole with each of said steering knuckles.

9. A front running gear for vehio1es comprising a body, a supportat each sid e of am].

with eaeh of said steering attached to und projecting from the freut structed and arranged to be engaged an(1 end of said body and having a depending guided by said depending braces, a front brace a substantia]. distance f1om the longi supporting wheel journaled on each 0f thc tudina] axis 0'f the b0dy, an upper trans ends 0f th-e tmnsverse lower support, adraft 15 verse support secured t0 and connected t0 p0le having 0ne end pivotally connected t0 said body, a hinge support seoured to and said transverse lower support, and means depending f1om said uppe1 transverse supoperated by the draft p01e f01 turning si-* port between said vertica1 braces, a, transmultaneously the front supporting wheels. verse lower snpport pivotally connected 01' In testimony Whe1e0f I hereunto affix my 2 hinged between its ends to said hinge supsignature. port, and said lower Support ends so cou- GEORGE NORVVOOD ALLEN. 

